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Heaven for Book Lovers
My motto after watching this movie: Grow my book collection until my last breathe and then convert it into a public library. (Yes..!)The moment you thought...you would sit down and enjoy this movie..you went wrong.
This movie won't let you peacefully enjoy its story, rather torment you and play with your heart and mind with its tear-jerking plot.
I won't lie... My heart literally ached. If you are one of those emo people then you would definitely cry over this movie.
As mentioned above... This movie is very much appropriate for any form of Book lover out there (including me)...
I'm totally convinced that... Japanese 'romance' genres have an aesthetic of their own. Your mind will feel happy to enjoy the earthy/grounded feeling these type of movies provide.
And I am also convinced that...no other country's movies/series can make you feel comfortable with 'Taboo' topics as Japan.
Thank you for that.
- Maaya
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the fact that Chan Hae wasn't with a life threatening disease, doesn't mean he was in a better place in life. that's why in-spite of it not being a great idea, he let his emotions in finding a kindred spirits rule out thoughts like, "is this a good idea", and he just did what felt right - same with Ryoko, she didn't reach out to him when she was coherent but lost and desperate, turning to the one person that was a safe haven she recognized - that didn't preach or talk down to her - but was there for her, no questions asked...
the end of the relationship was a given, and so was both their reactions - he couldn't walk away cause he genuinely cared, and if u love how can u walk away unaffected knowing the suffering awaiting the person u love?!? on her part, she wanted while she was coherent enough to do the right thing - not to turn into a burden he might come to regret - as she had previous knowledge cause of her own mothers suffering's. so they both were hurting and sad and ultimately that helped him grow as a person, let alone find something he wanted to do in life..
of course a happily ever after would be perfect, but "going in" everyone knows this will have a sad ending, as they know they will tear-up and cry - but it was a bittersweet moment throughout this movie
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Fragility and beauty
This is a gentle and poignant reminder to savour life and our own frailties.The story plotline is sad and I shed a tear at the end, however, I recommend this drama for the beautiful production and telling of this sad story. I did not feel that there was any exploitation between the couple as his desire to be useful morphs into caring then love for this intelligent and beautiful older woman. The cinematography and dialogue alone make this very watchable. If you love books and writing then you will appreciate how the unfolding novel is like a metaphor for the inevitable sad ending of their relationship.
Showing Matsumura Ryouko's ex husbands stern and practical nature is a good counterpoint to her young lover So Chan Hae's more nurturing personna. At 50 she is attractive, intelligent and a respected teacher facing a known disease that will rob her of her humanity.
The creation of the random library is an act of love and displays how in tune So Chan Hae is with her. The fact that this library survives in its original form leaving a legacy of their love is one of the plot twists that I loved.
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Comfort movie ??
The movie is surely a familiar melodramatic stuff reminiscent of similar films such as “Iris” (2001) and “Still Alice” (2015), but director/writer Jeong Jae-eun handles his story and characters with care and consideration. At one point, the movie makes a little fun of Ryoko’s most famous work which was incidentally inspired by her crumbling relationship with her ex-husband, but it respects her artistic passion and dedication nonetheless, and that is why it is often poignant to watch her struggle to write through whatever is still left inside her mind. Although her relationship with Chan-hae initially looks clichéd, both of them are presented as human characters we can care about, and it is engaging to watch how their relationship is developed along the story.The lead performers of the movie support the movie well with their good performance. Miho Nakayama, a Japanese actress who has been fondly remembered by many audiences in Japan and South Korea for her charming performance in “Love Letter” (1995), deftly handles a number of obligatory melodramatic moments in the film, and she is fabulous whenever she is required to express a lot of things via her beautiful face. On the opposite, Kim Jae-wook, a South Korean actor who has mainly worked in several South Korean TV dramas, is solid in his understated acting which effectively functions as the solid ground for his co-performer’s showier performance, and, as far as I heard from others, he did a fairly nice job of speaking Japanese with some necessary awkwardness as required.
Although it is not so different from many other neat Japanese melodrama films during recent years, “Butterfly Sleep” distinguishes itself to some degree via its interesting setting and sincere storytelling, and its overall result is both entertaining and touching enough for recommendation. It may be predictable, but this is a well-made movie packed with genuine feelings, and it certainly earns its tears in the end.
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